Controversy Follows Clinton To Church

Bill Hybels, senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, often has taken a nontraditional approach to religion.

He held the first meetings of his church in a Palatine movie theater and went door to door in the church's early days, polling people about their feelings on religion.

But Thursday Hybels took one of his boldest steps when he sat on stage in front of more than 4,500 religious leaders and conducted an interview with President Clinton, a man scorned by some for his conduct in the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Even Hybels seemed slightly apprehensive about how the crowd would react, noting that "some of you are wondering if I have been out in the sun too long."

He even asked them to "be nice."

It's no wonder. Clinton's appearance at the South Barrington church set off a wide range of reactions, from people sending the church hateful e-mails to those who gathered to pray as Clinton's motorcade passed.

But there were also plenty of people who praised Hybels' move, which they said teaches the true meaning of forgiveness and grace.

"It was courageous on both their parts," said Martin Redshaw, 43, a volunteer at Northwoods Community Church in Peoria, referring to Hybels and Clinton.

Hybels' nearly 90-minute session with Clinton occurred on the first of a three-day "leadership summit" sponsored by the Willow Creek Association, an international association of churches based in South Barrington. People from throughout the Midwest and as far away as Sweden and Germany are attending.

The sessions also are being broadcast to about 6,300 people gathered at 15 satellite locations in the United States and Canada.

Clinton is the most prominent figure to appear at the convention, where other speakers include Richard DeVos, co-founder of Amway Corp.

But many people did not know until Thursday the president would be there.

Hybels, who has been one of Clinton's spiritual advisers throughout his presidency, extended the invitation during one of his monthly sessions with the president, said church spokesman David Staal.

The president's appearance was not well-received by some Christian leaders. In the past few days, the church has received angry e-mails and faxes from people, Hybels said.

"Some screamed horrendous insults at our receptionist," he said.

Even his own church debated whether Clinton should be allowed to speak. In a letter to conference attendees, church elders said they "agonized, prayed, engaged in animated debate and prayed more," before deciding to allow the interview to take place.

"At the end of the day, we might well say as elders that this decision was one we should have turned from," they wrote. "If so, we take responsibility for that."

Clinton's appearance drew about a dozen demonstrators from the Arlington Heights-based Christian Liberty Academy, who stood with placards and posters protesting Clinton's veto of the ban on partial birth abortions.

The demonstrators also expressed dismay that Willow Creek officials invited Clinton to speak.

"I love Willow Creek, my son is a member, but I don't understand how Rev. Hybels can invite Clinton here," said Al Eberhardt of Arlington Heights as he stood on Algonquin Road holding a large poster with a depiction of an aborted fetus. "He is a terrible example of a leader."

People interviewed at the conference disagreed, saying they could learn from Clinton.